Can the United States be the “crypt” capital “of the world? This thinks the head of the SEC

Paul Atkins, president of the United States Stock Exchange and Securities Commission (SEC), said the agency must regulate the issuance, custody and negotiation of digital assets and update its regulatory arsenal if you really want to position the country as a global cryptocurrency leader.

In a new round of discussions of the Cryptocurrency Working Group of the SEC, Atkins detailed a plan for establish clear rules that foster innovation without neglecting investor protection.

According to the official, the CD compliance approach will return to the original intention of the United States Congress, prioritizing surveillance against fraud and manipulations. In addition, he stressed that the agency must adapt to technological innovations, such as tokenization, so as not to suffocate the growth of the sector.

“For the United States to be the capital of cryptocurrencies of the planet, as expected by President Trump, the SEC must be kept up to date with innovation and consider whether regulatory changes for tokenized values ​​and other types of digital assets. Blockchain ”.

Paul Atkins, president of the United States Stock Exchange and Securities Commission.

Atkins, sworn on April 21, 2025, marked a change of course against the management of his predecessor, Gary Gensler, whose position was criticized for his litigious approach. During the round table, the president of the SEC compared the tokenization with the digital audio revolution in the music industry.

“The migration to tokenized values ​​has the potential to remodel aspects of the stock market by allowing completely new methods to issue, negotiate, possess and use securities,” he said. He explained that the securities in the chain can use intelligent contracts to distribute dividends transparently and improve the liquidity of traditionally ilequid assets, Opening new investment opportunities.

A clear contrast

Atkins’s approach contrasts with the last years of the SEC, which, according to him, first ignored the cryptocurrencies and then adopted an aggressive regulation through compliance actions. “The SEC said she was willing to speak with possible recorders, but this was ephemeral and, I think, misleading,” he criticized.

He pointed out that forms such as S-1, which demand information on executive compensation, do not conform to the needs of digital assets. Proposed that the SEC adapt its processes, as it has done with other types of values, to reflect the peculiarities of cryptocurrencies.

The creation of the cryptocurrency work group, led by Commissioners Mark Uyeda and Hester Peirce, is a step towards internal coordination. “For too long, the commission has been plagued by Silos in policy formulation,” said Atkins. This group seeks to unify efforts to offer regulatory clarity.

The community, as reported by cryptootics, maintains high expectations to these reforms. Above all, because the US president himself has expressed interest in convert that country into the capital of Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies of the entire planet. This would propose that a large part of the development of the sector is based from American soil, including digital mining.

The SEC has removed litigation against platforms such as Ripple, Coinbase and Kraken, which suggests a change towards a less aggressive position against the sector. In addition, the agency faces the review of more than 70 requests for quoted funds (ETF) linked to cryptoactive, a task that ATKINS must expedite to respond to the demand of investors.

Balance between innovation and legal certainty

The round table, entitledTokenization: moving chain assets: where the tradfi and defi are foundis part of a series of meetings to discuss topics such as custody and tokenization. Atkins raised key questions: Are you necessary amendments to securities laws to adapt custody rules? Does the special purpose runners regime work? These discussions seek a balance between innovation and legal certainty.

Cryptootics has reported that the community expects the SEC to define whether digital assets are values, commodities or a new category, reducing the uncertainty that has limited the development of the sector in the United States.

Atkins also addressed investor protection, emphasizing that clear rules will help identify scams. “It is a new day in Sec. The formulation of policies will no longer result from ad hoc compliance actions,” he promised.

Its commitment is to use the existing author authorities to establish standards that do not hinder blockchain technology. However, face challenges, as state regulatory tensions and the pressure of institutional investors that seek greater exposure to cryptoactive.

Atkins’s speech reflects a pragmatic approach, backed by his experience as commissioner of the SEC between 2002 and 2008. His career in regulatory consulting and his support for innovation positions him as a key figure to transform the regulation of the sector. If you finally implement a clear framework, the United States could be consolidated as a leader in decentralized finances, aligning with one of Trump’s promises.